Aker signs Eur180M ferry deal

Norway’s Aker Yards has signed a deal with Estonia’s Tallink group for a large cruise ferry worth Eur180m. The ship, to be delivered in spring 2009 will be the third in the series built by the yard.

AKER SIGNS EUR180M FERRY DEAL

Norway’s Aker Yards has signed a deal with Estonia’s Tallink group for a large cruise ferry worth Eur180m. The ship, to be delivered in spring 2009 will be the third in the series built by the yard. The first is already in operation, the second is due to be delivered next year.

Aker Yards' business area Cruise & Ferries now has in the orderbook in all 22 vessels, 11 of which are cruise vessels and 11 ferries. Two of them are for Tallink after the fast day ferry "Star" was delivered yesterday. The orderbook also includes the world's biggest cruise ferry and two of the world's largest ropax ferries.

The Tallink vessel will have a 2,800 passenger capacity. "Building the new cruise ferry for our important customer Tallink is another congenial challenge," said Yrjö Julin, President of Aker Yards, Cruise & Ferries. "We have a long history with the combined Tallink Silja with in all 19 delivered car-passenger ferries and several vessel conversions."